Nine Political Prisoners Continued to be Held Behind Bars After their Release Dates

Nine prisoners of conscience, sentenced for exercising their right to freedom of expression, association and assembly, are currently subject to indefinite detention within UAE jails.

Indefinite detention is the incarceration of prisoners beyond their release date, without trial or due process. At the end of their sentences, these prisoners were transferred to so-called “Munasaha centres” or “counselling centres”, which are situated within the prison facility, and arbitrarily held through a court order or an administrative decision. Under the UAE’s counterterrorism law, the centres are aimed at “enlightenment and reform” of prisoners who are deemed to pose a terrorist threat.

The continued detention of inmates beyond their sentence breaches both international human rights law and the UAE’s own laws regarding fair trials and due process. 

Below is a list of the political prisoners currently detained indefinitely:

1.    Amina Al-Abdouli: She was arrested on 19 November 2015 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Her sentence expired on 19 November 2020.

2.    Maryam Al-Balushi: She was arrested on 19 November 2015 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Her sentence expired on 19 November 2020.

3.   Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Helou: He was arrested on 22 April 2014 and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 22 April 2017.

4.   Abdulwahid Hassan Al-Shehhi: He was arrested on 26 March 2013 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 26 March 2018.

5.    Khalifa Rabiaa: He was arrested on 23 July 2013 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 23 July 2018.

6.    Abdullah Abdulkadir Al-Hajri: He was arrested on 16 July 2012 and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 16 July 2019.

7.  Mahmoud Hassan Al-Hosani: He was arrested on 16 July 2012 and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 16 July 2019.

8.  Omran Ali Al-Harthi: He was arrested on 16 July 2012 and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 16 July 2019.

9.  Fahd Abdulkadir Al-Hajri: He was arrested on 2 March 2013 and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. His sentence ended on 2 March 2020.